The Kennedy High School Girls Wrestling Team is nearing the end of an exciting and challenging season. Last year, we had one state qualifier, but this year, we may have as many as three girls who could make it to the California State Tournament. Injuries and a lack of minimum required wrestlers meant the boys team had to forfeit all their dual meets, which hurt our fundraising as the boys have traditionally been the focus of the wrestling program. We actually did not do any in-season fundraising as a result of our low numbers. Now, as we approach the most important tournaments of the year, we’re facing a real financial challenge. If any of our girls qualify for state, we simply won’t have enough money to support them on this journey.

Right now, our team only has sweatshirts and sweatpants, but we want to outfit four or five girls with official school-colored and printed track uniforms for the final tournaments. When other schools place in these larger tournaments, their athletes stand on the podium in official uniforms, and we want our girls to feel just as proud and recognized. In addition to uniforms, we need help covering transportation, housing, and food for the masters qualifying tournament and the state tournament for both our wrestlers and coaches. Every dollar raised will go directly to making sure our athletes have what they need to compete at their best and represent Kennedy with pride.

I’d really like to thank anyone who can help in this fundraiser. We have a small team, but our strong lightweight girls wrestlers have a real shot at making an impact this year. Kennedy isn’t known for wrestling or many other sports, but we’re working hard to show these girls they can achieve anywhere, especially in a tough sport like wrestling. Your support means the world to us and will help these athletes reach their dreams.